Bowie High

Q: Is Bowie High a good school?

Bowie High ranks 78 th of 146 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Bowie High is a public high school in Bowie, Maryland, serving 2,460 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, which is ranked 22 out of 25 in Maryland and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bowie High faces several challenges, including a significantly higher percentage of African American students (65.28%) compared to nearby schools, lower-than-average test scores (only 5.3% of students were proficient or better in MCAP/Mathematics, compared to 10.8% in the district and 24.1% statewide), and a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (34.8% to 48.25%). The school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Maryland high schools, with a ranking between 70 and 151 out of 225-233 schools over the past several years. When compared to nearby schools, Parkdale High and Fairmont Heights High have similar racial demographics and test score profiles, while the magnet schools like Academy of Health Sciences at PGCC and Eleanor Roosevelt High have significantly higher test scores and more diverse student populations.

While the Prince George's County Public Schools district is investing more resources in Bowie High, with spending per student increasing from $12,751 in 2018-2019 to $14,314 in 2020-2021, this has not yet translated into improved academic performance. The school's student-teacher ratio has remained relatively stable, ranging from 17.8 to 18.8 over the past few years, indicating that class size is not a significant differentiating factor. Overall, Bowie High faces significant challenges in improving its academic outcomes, and the comparison to nearby magnet schools highlights the potential for higher-quality education when targeted resources and programs are available.

Detail:

Public 9-12

15200 Annapolis Rd
Bowie, MD 20715-1897

(301) 805-2600

District: Prince George's County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
78^th of 146 Maryland High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,130

Feeder schools for Bowie High:

Elementary:	High Bridge Elementary
	Kenilworth Elementary
	Northview Elementary
	Pointer Ridge Elementary
	More...
	Rockledge Elementary
	Tulip Grove Elementary
	Whitehall Elementary
	Yorktown Elementary
Middle:	Benjamin Tasker Middle
	Samuel Ogle Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 18.7

Number of students: 2,460

Racial breakdown:

African American:

65.3%

Hispanic:

20.1%

White:

8.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 48.3%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Bowie High ranks worse than 53.4% of high schools in Maryland. It also ranks 3^rd among 10 ranked high schools in the Prince George's County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 42.77. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Bowie High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (65.3%), Hispanic (20.1%), White (8.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 48.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bowie High is 18.7. 19 high schools in the Prince George's County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Bowie High employs 131 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bowie High is $16,130. 21 high schools in the Prince George's County Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Bowie High was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Bowie High 78^th of 146 Maryland public high schools. (See Bowie High in the ranking list.)

Prince George's County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Prince George's County Public Schools 22^nd of 25 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Bowie High

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile
2004	45.03	109^th	201	45.8%
2005	33.53	144^th	204	29.4%
2006	37.95	137^th	204	32.8%
2007	45.24	124^th	209	40.7%
2008	40.07	152^nd	214	29.0%
2009	38.28	154^th	213	27.7%
2010	44.81	153^rd	220	30.5%
2011	21.63	153^rd	183	16.4%
2012	32.13	141^st	187	24.6%
2013	30.78	139^th	185	24.9%
2014	56.91	141^st	231	39.0%
2015	39.76	151^st	233	35.2%
2016	45.41	128^th	233	45.1%
2017	30.98	120^th	180	33.3%
2018	28.21	135^th	197	31.5%
2019	35.42	93^rd	138	32.6%
2022	37.69	117^th	225	48.0%
2023	45.75	70^th	127	44.9%
2024	42.77	78^th	146	46.6%

See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Maryland State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Bowie High

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	1476	588	64	23	5	n/a	n/a	-4	2152
1990	1293	557	64	25	4	n/a	n/a	0	1943
1991	1226	587	54	24	4	n/a	n/a	0	1895
1992	1205	581	46	30	3	n/a	n/a	0	1865
1993	1157	546	57	29	3	n/a	n/a	0	1792
1994	1219	613	64	30	1	n/a	n/a	0	1927
1995	1285	777	65	30	4	n/a	n/a	0	2161
1996	1285	777	65	30	4	n/a	n/a	0	2161
1997	1304	907	75	41	4	n/a	n/a	0	2331
1998	1291	1065	90	35	8	n/a	n/a	0	2489
1999	1234	1114	100	50	9	n/a	n/a	0	2507
2000	1245	1217	109	54	9	n/a	n/a	0	2634
2001	1199	1282	109	48	12	n/a	n/a	0	2650
2002	1141	1232	108	48	8	n/a	n/a	0	2537
2003	1141	1232	108	48	8	n/a	n/a	0	2537
2004	1112	1444	105	82	15	n/a	n/a	0	2758
2005	1048	1523	98	86	14	n/a	n/a	0	2769
2006	928	1688	102	112	12	n/a	n/a	0	2842
2007	827	1806	113	132	16	n/a	n/a	0	2894
2008	757	1905	102	152	17	n/a	n/a	0	2933
2009	663	2034	103	150	14	n/a	n/a	0	2964
2010	611	2088	120	172	16	n/a	n/a	0	3007
2011	549	2026	118	178	7	2	32	0	2912
2012	499	1968	111	193	4	2	59	0	2836
2013	446	1900	115	202	4	3	90	0	2760
2014	411	1735	103	201	7	2	114	0	2573
2015	335	1645	103	232	5	1	121	0	2442
2016	328	1612	101	224	3	2	111	0	2381
2017	310	1625	95	245	1	1	90	0	2367
2018	275	1653	105	287	2	3	99	0	2424
2019	257	1626	93	315	3	3	95	0	2392
2020	240	1645	84	359	7	3	90	0	2428
2021	237	1608	94	381	8	2	76	0	2406
2022	226	1582	85	410	17	4	55	0	2379
2023	207	1606	83	495	16	5	47	1	2460

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bowie High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	2152	102.3	21.0	n/a
1990	1943	96.3	20.1	0.3
1991	1895	89.5	21.1	2.6
1992	1865	92.1	20.2	4.1
1993	1792	88.0	20.4	4.2
1994	1927	94.0	20.5	7.7
1995	2161	111.1	19.5	10.9
1996	2161	111.1	19.5	10.9
1997	2331	118.6	19.7	11.2
1998	2489	142.6	17.5	8.2
1999	2507	142.7	17.6	8.9
2000	2634	145.4	18.1	8.9
2001	2650	138.7	19.1	9.5
2002	2537	131.2	19.3	7.8
2003	2537	131.2	19.3	7.8
2004	2758	131.7	20.9	12.4
2005	2769	150.0	18.5	12.1
2006	2842	147.0	19.3	12.2
2007	2894	163.2	17.7	14.3
2008	2933	161.6	18.1	16.1
2009	2964	155.6	19.0	16.7
2010	3007	151.1	19.9	21
2011	2912	144.6	20.1	20.9
2012	2836	134.6	21.0	22.4
2013	2760	136.6	20.2	26.2
2014	2573	139.1	18.4	23.6
2015	2442	138.0	17.6	28.9
2016	2381	133.0	17.9	25.2
2017	2367	135.5	17.4	32.3
2018	2424	137.5	17.6	31.6
2019	2392	130.5	18.3	33.4
2020	2428	127.5	19.0	32.7
2021	2406	134.5	17.8	36.8
2022	2379	126.0	18.8	34.8
2023	2460	131.0	18.7	48.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bowie High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	2152	102.3	21.0	n/a
1990	1943	96.3	20.1	0.3
1991	1895	89.5	21.1	2.6
1992	1865	92.1	20.2	4.1
1993	1792	88.0	20.4	4.2
1994	1927	94.0	20.5	7.7
1995	2161	111.1	19.5	10.9
1996	2161	111.1	19.5	10.9
1997	2331	118.6	19.7	11.2
1998	2489	142.6	17.5	8.2
1999	2507	142.7	17.6	8.9
2000	2634	145.4	18.1	8.9
2001	2650	138.7	19.1	9.5
2002	2537	131.2	19.3	7.8
2003	2537	131.2	19.3	7.8
2004	2758	131.7	20.9	12.4
2005	2769	150.0	18.5	12.1
2006	2842	147.0	19.3	12.2
2007	2894	163.2	17.7	14.3
2008	2933	161.6	18.1	16.1
2009	2964	155.6	19.0	16.7
2010	3007	151.1	19.9	21
2011	2912	144.6	20.1	20.9
2012	2836	134.6	21.0	22.4
2013	2760	136.6	20.2	26.2
2014	2573	139.1	18.4	23.6
2015	2442	138.0	17.6	28.9
2016	2381	133.0	17.9	25.2
2017	2367	135.5	17.4	32.3
2018	2424	137.5	17.6	31.6
2019	2392	130.5	18.3	33.4
2020	2428	127.5	19.0	32.7
2021	2406	134.5	17.8	36.8
2022	2379	126.0	18.8	34.8
2023	2460	131.0	18.7	48.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bowie High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$644 (5.1%)	$12,107 (94.9%)	$12,751
2020	$604 (4.6%)	$12,670 (95.5%)	$13,273
2021	$887 (6.2%)	$13,428 (93.8%)	$14,314
2022	$1,710 (10.6%)	$14,445 (89.4%)	$16,155
2023	$1,538 (9.5%)	$14,593 (90.5%)	$16,130

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bowie High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 93^rd of 138 High schools	Ranks 70^th of 127 High schools	12.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	2392	2460	2.8%
African American	1626	1606	1.2%
American Indian	3	16	433.3%
Asian	93	83	10.8%
Hispanic	315	495	57.1%
Pacific Islander	3	5	66.7%
White	257	207	19.5%
Two or More Races	95	47	50.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	33.4%	48.3%	14.9%

Schools Near Bowie High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCAP Mathematics (2024)	MCAP English Language Arts (2024)		MCAP Algebra I (2024)	MCAP Algebra II (2024)	MCAP Geometry (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Algebra II End of Course	MCAP Geometry End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bowie High	Public	9-12	15200 Annapolis Rd	Bowie	20715	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 805-2600	2,460	131	18.7	48.3%	207 (8.4%)	1,606 (65.3%)	495 (20.1%)	83 (3.4%)	16 (0.7%)	5 (0.2%)	47 (1.9%)	42.8	78^th of 146 public high schools	46.6%		45.8	70^th of 127 public high schools	44.9%	8	5.3	60.4	60.4	10.1			$16,130	$1,538	$14,593
Crofton High School	Public	9-12	2291 Davidsonville Road	Gambrills	21054	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 451-5300	1,805	96	18.7	13.8%	974 (54.0%)	364 (20.2%)	216 (12.0%)	137 (7.6%)	8 (0.4%)	4 (0.2%)	95 (5.3%)	67.1	19^th of 146 public high schools	87.0%		64.6	22^nd of 127 public high schools	82.7%	3	17.5	81.4	81.4	17.5			$13,663	$1,140	$12,523
Duval High	Public, Magnet	9-12	9880 Good Luck Rd	Lanham	20706	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 918-8600	2,503	127	19.7	74.5%	66 (2.6%)	1,278 (51.1%)	1,036 (41.4%)	86 (3.4%)	9 (0.4%)	6 (0.2%)	22 (0.9%)	22.9	128^th of 146 public high schools	12.3%		31.7	103^rd of 127 public high schools	18.9%	25	6.5	54.9	54.9	7.3	5.9	5.9	$15,154	$1,476	$13,677
Charles Herbert Flowers High	Public, Magnet	9-12	10001 Ardwick-Ardmore Rd	Springdale	20774	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 636-8000	2,569	122	21.0	62.3%	21 (0.8%)	2,169 (84.4%)	291 (11.3%)	54 (2.1%)	7 (0.3%)	3 (0.1%)	24 (0.9%)	42.4	80^th of 146 public high schools	45.2%		32.4	101^st of 127 public high schools	20.5%	21	10.7	65.9	65.9	8.9		17.9	$15,523	$1,440	$14,083
Eleanor Roosevelt High	Public, Magnet	9-12	7601 Hanover Pkwy	Greenbelt	20770	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 513-5400	2,526	122	20.7	59.1%	235 (9.3%)	1,398 (55.3%)	626 (24.8%)	204 (8.1%)	9 (0.4%)	7 (0.3%)	47 (1.9%)	45.3	72^nd of 146 public high schools	50.7%		54.1	46^th of 127 public high schools	63.8%	26	24.2	63.6	63.6	11.9	36.2	24.9	$14,993	$1,468	$13,525
Arundel High	Public	9-12	1001 Annapolis Rd	Gambrills	21054	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 674-6500	1,617	93	17.3	25.7%	648 (40.1%)	500 (30.9%)	192 (11.9%)	83 (5.1%)	2 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	188 (11.6%)	61.4	29^th of 146 public high schools	80.1%					(n/a)	9.1	73.7	73.7	9.1			$15,496	$1,496	$14,000
Largo High	Public, Magnet	9-12	505 Largo Rd	Upper Marlboro	20774	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 808-8880	939	64	14.6	66.3%	12 (1.3%)	788 (83.9%)	125 (13.3%)	6 (0.6%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.4%)	34.7	108^th of 146 public high schools	26.0%					(n/a)		45.3	45.3			6.7	$20,929	$2,026	$18,903
International High school @ Largo	Public	9-12	505 Largo Rd	Upper Marlboro	20772	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 702-3810	389	30	12.9	87.7%	4 (1.0%)	25 (6.4%)	319 (82.0%)	41 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)		18.6	18.6				$20,761	$1,419	$19,342
Academy of Health Sciences at PGCC	Public, Magnet	9-12	301 Largo Rd	Largo	20774	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 546-7247	467	23	20.3	41.5%	18 (3.9%)	333 (71.3%)	59 (12.6%)	43 (9.2%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	8 (1.7%)	81	8^th of 146 public high schools	94.5%		69.6	16^th of 127 public high schools	87.4%	8	50.3	94.5	94.5	61.8	25.0		$18,134	$1,091	$17,043
Parkdale High	Public, Magnet	9-12	6001 Good Luck Rd	Riverdale	20737	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 513-5700	2,561	157	16.3	82.7%	71 (2.8%)	625 (24.4%)	1,768 (69.0%)	82 (3.2%)	5 (0.2%)	3 (0.1%)	7 (0.3%)								(n/a)		31.6	31.6				$17,035	$1,649	$15,387

Frequently Asked Questions about Bowie High

Is Bowie High a good school?

Bowie High ranks 78^th of 146 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Bowie High?

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,460 students attended Bowie High.

What is the racial makeup of Bowie High?

Students at Bowie High are 65% African American, 20% Hispanic, 8% White, 3% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Bowie High in?

Prince George's County Public Schools

What schools feed into Bowie High?

Bowie High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : High Bridge Elementary
Elementary : Kenilworth Elementary
Elementary : Northview Elementary
Elementary : Pointer Ridge Elementary
Elementary : Rockledge Elementary
Elementary : Tulip Grove Elementary
Elementary : Whitehall Elementary
Elementary : Yorktown Elementary
Middle : Benjamin Tasker Middle
Middle : Samuel Ogle Middle

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.